Evolution of hominin intelligence

This article is currently being developed as part of an Eduzendium student project. If you are not involved with this project, please refrain from collaboratively developing it until this notice is removed. Articles that lack this notice, including many Eduzendium ones, welcome your collaboration!

The evolution of hominin intelligence can be viewed as a result of an environmental challenge throughout time and can be traced over the past 10 million years (Citation Needed). There are several ways to define intelligence besides the more common measure of "understanding". Intelligence includes a combination of traits such as reasoning, planning, the comprehension of ideas, language, learning and problem solving. More sophisticated qualities that are very difficult to quantify include creativity or personality traits.

Development of the brain

Up until approximately 5 million years ago and the beginning of the Pliocene era where we begin to notice the development of the hominid brain (Citation needed) before this time period, the hominoid brain was no larger then the brain of other mammals of similar size. Hominid intelligence can be measure by the size of the brain. It is believed that the size of the brain determines the intelligence of the individual,(Citation Needed) where early hominid had an excellent understanding of the mechanical properties. Compared to other hominids, chimpanzees and gorillas, the development of the hominin brain is three times larger. The advantage to a larger brain size is the increased in cognitive adaptability. Current research on the HAR1 (Human Accelerated Region 1) has quickly evolved in the modern hominin compared to other hominids (cite 3). HAR1 is an RNA gene that is expressed in the early neural embryo genesis. Through re-sequencing studies, David Hausler et.al indicate that the changes in the human lineage to be approximately more then 1millionyears old (Cite 4). HAR 1 encodes for two oppositely transcribe RNA’s; 1) HAR1F and 2) HAR1R. David Hausler observed that the HAR1F found in chimpanzee and modern human, and notice that the double-stranded helix in this particular gene is longer in modern human. This suggests that RNA on the brain is different in hominin compared to chimpanzee and gorillas, however, many studies still need to be conducted. Stern and Woods state that both genes Microcephalin (MCPH1) and ASPM (MCH 5) control human brain size.

However, a larger skull created a problem for the female hominids because it required the female to have a larger birth canal. A larger and wider pelvis would lose her ability to use the other motor skills, such as running (Citation Needed) that was used for survival. In order to give birth before the infant skull grew too large for the birth canal, the mother had to give birth at an early stage, which suggest why hominin infant are helpless compared to other mammal and primate infants. With the need to care for infants, hominin groups were force to stay in one location for long periods of time. This suggests that hominin became more dependent on tool-making because the males would hunt and defend his area, while the female would care for the infant.

Pleistocene (1.8 million years ago)

Australopithecus are related to hominid but during this era, hominid brain size increased, which suggest the increase of intelligence. Approximately 2million years ago, Homo habilis showed characteristic of modern hominid. Evidence of Stone tool, such as stone and teeth and claws from other animals was used which gave evidence that hominid diet increased from herbivore to carnivore. Understanding to use of stone tool allow Homo habilis to cut hid and cut meat, thus increases their understanding to adapt to their environment.

Stone tool

Diversity of tool-making and tool-using behavior is observed in chimpanzee but the intelligence of advance stone tool is observed from early hominid. The use of stone tools required larger brain mass to completed such skill to survive. With the understanding of tools and the ability to control fire, this gave man the ability to defend themselves against predators and longer hours to gather and hunt for food. The earliest evidence of hominid technology is found in Ethiopian Rift Valley and the Olduvai Gorge, dated 2.5 Ma. Known as the Oldowan Industrial Complex, Australopithecus Africanus and Homo habilis are considered to be the first tool maker, were highly skilled in stone flaking. Unlike, chimpanzee’s that have a narrow fingertip, Modern Man has short straight fingers and long thumb that increases the stability of gripping tools. Homo habilis is considered to be the first tool maker. Around 1.5 mya, large cutting tool, approximately 10 to 17 cm long was invented by Homo erectus, thus developing the Acheulean industrial complex. Large cutting tools suggests that these tools were multipurpose tools, such as butchery, woodworking, etc. (Insert citations 1)

Homo habilis, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens and Neanderthal Man

Homo habilis

Australopithecus evolved bipedal; however, hominids developed a variety of things that Modern Man uses today, such as culture, art, religion, language and tools. The first species to appear in the genus Homos is Homo habilis, which evolved around 2 million years ago. The skull is thinner and more rounded, which suggest intelligence and lager brain mass. Even though their cranial capacity (600 to 800 cc) and body size was about half of Modern Man, their hand and feet are similar in size to that of Modern Man. Less prominent jaw and artifacts that were found with the fossil suggest that they utilized and advanced stone flakes for stone tools (Insert Citation). It is observed that H. Habilis did not use tool for defense or hunting but it was used for cleaving meat off and for scavenging.

Homo erectus

Homo erectus was more diverse and developed better tools and weapon. Highly sexual dimorphic, their brain size is approximately 950cc, while their height was 5’10” (males). Believed to be the first human species of hunter-gatherer society, their cranial capacity suggests more sophisticated tool technology (Insert Citation). It is also believed that Homo erectus is the first to be able to hunt in a large scale tame fire, to live in small society, and care for others.